Grip for hair styling device

ABSTRACT

A grip for a hair styling instrument is described. The grip includes an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto a handle of a hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use. The opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip. The opening of the grip is sized to contact the outer surface of the handle at at least one location along the grip and position the grip at a selected location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair styling instrument, and more particularly to a grip used for a hair styling instrument.

2. Description of Related Art

Tint (coloring) brushes are commonly used by hair stylists and other hair professionals to apply tinting or coloring to a subject's hair. Tint brushes typically have one end with brushes attached to handle. The handle of the brush is often used to straighten the subject's hair in between use of the brush to apply or spread tinting to the hair. Thus, the handle typically has a smooth surface that allows the handle to move easily through hair. Additionally, the handle may be small in cross-section to move through the hair more easily. The hair stylist or user typically flips the tint brush over to alternate between tinting hair (using the brush) and straightening hair (using the handle). The handle may be difficult to continuously grasp while alternating (flipping) between tinting and straightening hair because of the smoothness and/or size of the handle. Additionally, the stylist typically flips the tint brush with only one hand as the stylist's other hand is used for other uses such as holding the hair. Using only one hand increases the need for a secure grasp of the tint brush while flipping the tint brush. Thus, there is a need for devices and/or methods to more securely grasp the tint brush, especially during flipping of the tint brush, without interfering with the use of the tint brush in tinting and/or straightening of hair.

SUMMARY

In certain embodiments, a grip for a hair styling instrument includes an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto a handle of a hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use. The opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip. The opening of the grip is sized to contact the outer surface of the handle at at least one location along the grip and position the grip at a selected location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle. In some embodiments, the opening of the grip is sized such that at least part of the wall of the opening contacts the outer surface of the handle at a selected location along the grip to position the grip at a desired location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle during use.

In certain embodiments, a system for coloring and straightening hair includes a hair styling instrument and a grip. The hair styling instrument includes a hair coloring brush head attached to a tapered handle that allows the handle to be used to straighten hair during use. The grip includes an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto the handle of the hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use. The opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip. The opening is sized such that the grip is positioned at a selected location along the handle when at least part of the wall of the opening contacts the outer surface of the handle during use.

In some embodiments, the grip includes ridges that allow a user's hand to securely grasp the grip during use. The grip allows a hand of a user of the hair styling instrument to securely grasp the hair styling instrument while using the instrument to color and straighten hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the methods and apparatus of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of presently preferred but nonetheless illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a hair styling instrument.

FIG. 2 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a grip.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional representation of a grip.

FIG. 4 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a grip coupled to a handle of an instrument.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The drawings may not be to scale. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the context of this patent, the term “coupled” means either a direct connection or an indirect connection (e.g., one or more intervening connections) between one or more objects or components.

FIG. 1 depicts a representation of an embodiment of a hair styling instrument. Hair styling instrument 100 may be, for example, a hair coloring (tinting) instrument such as a tint brush. In certain embodiments, instrument 100 includes brush head 102 and handle 104. In some embodiments, handle 104 is attached to brush head 102. In certain embodiments, handle 104 and brush head 102 are a single contiguous piece. For example, the brush head and the handle are molded from a single piece of material. Brush head 102 and handle 104 may be made of materials such as, but not limited to, plastics, hardened plastics, and metals.

Brush head 102 may include bristles 106. Bristles 106 may be used to apply or spread hair coloring into human hair. For example, bristles 106 may be used to apply a coloring agent, or other chemicals, to human hair and then spread the coloring agent through the hair. Brush head 102 and bristles 106 may be any type of brush head and bristles known in the art for applying chemicals to human hair.

Handle 104 may be used to operate brush head 102 and bristles 106. For example, handle 104 allows a user of instrument 100 to apply the coloring agent or other chemical to human hair. In certain embodiments, handle 104 is used to straighten or part hair. For example, the end of handle 104 opposite brush head 102 may be used to straighten hair by moving the handle end through the hair.

Handle 104 may have any cross-sectional shape desired or known in the art. For example, handle 104 may have a rectangular, circular, or square cross-sectional shape. In certain embodiments, handle 104 is beveled or tapered along the length of the handle, as shown in FIG. 1. The tapered shape along the length of handle 104 allows the handle to be moved through and straighten hair more easily.

In certain embodiments, handle 104 has a smooth surface that allows the handle to move through the hair more easily. The smoothness of handle 104 may, however, inhibit the user of instrument 100 from securely grasping the handle. Handle 104 may be particularly difficult to securely grasp when flipping instrument 100 in the user's hand. Instrument 100 may be flipped to alternate between using handle 104 to straighten hair and using brush head 102 to apply/spread coloring agent. As the user typically will flip instrument 100 with only one hand and do so in a quick manner so that the other hand remains free for other tasks, a secure and reliable grasp of handle 104 is needed.

FIG. 2 depicts a representation of an embodiment of grip 200. FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional representation of grip 200. Grip 200 may be made of soft plastic or another suitable material that has a high gripping ability with a human hand. For example, grip 200 may be made of moldable soft plastic. In certain embodiments, the shape and material of grip 200 allows a user to grasp and secure the grip between the user's thumb and one or more of the user's fingers.

In certain embodiments, grip 200 includes ridges 202, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Ridges 202 may be shaped to conform to a typical user's thumb and/or finger. For example, ridges 202 may have a gap between the ridges that is about the size of a typical user's thumb or finger. Additionally, ridges 202 may be shaped to allow the ridges to be placed between fingers of the user's hand.

As shown in FIG. 3, grip 200 may have opening 204 lengthwise through the center of the grip. Opening 204 may be a longitudinal opening through grip 200. Opening 204 allows grip 200 be moved (slid) onto handle 104 of instrument 100 and coupled to the handle, shown in FIG. 1. Opening 204 may have a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-section shape of handle 104 on instrument 100. FIG. 4 depicts a representation of an embodiment of grip 200 coupled to (moved onto) handle 104 of instrument 100. In certain embodiments, a user is able to slide grip 200 on and off handle 104 of instrument 100 as needed. Thus, grip 200 is removable from handle 104 of instrument 100 (e.g., the grip is removably coupled to the handle of the instrument).

In certain embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, grip 200 has a tapered (beveled) inner surface (e.g., the walls of opening 204 are tapered lengthwise). The shape of the lengthwise taper of opening 204 may substantially match the tapered shape along the length of handle 104 of instrument 100. In certain embodiments, opening 204 tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of grip 200 to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip. Thus, in certain embodiments, grip 200 is moved onto handle 104 with the first end of the grip (the larger diameter end) being moved onto the handle first.

Because the larger diameter of opening 204 is larger than the end of handle 104, as grip 200 is moved onto handle 104 during use, the grip can be moved onto (e.g., slid onto) the handle until at least part of the inner surface of the grip (at least part of the wall of the opening) contacts the outer surface of the handle and inhibits further movement of the grip onto the handle. Thus, when at least part of the inner surface of grip 200 contacts the outer surface of handle 104, the grip is coupled to the handle. When the inner surface of grip 200 contacts the outer surface of handle 104, the grip may be securely coupled to the handle until the user applies a small amount of force to remove the grip from the handle.

In certain embodiments, the size of opening 204 in grip 200 is selected to position the grip at a selected (desired) location along the length of handle 104. For example, opening 204 may be sized such that grip 200 is positioned at a selected location along handle 104 when at least part of the wall of the opening contacts the outer surface of the handle. In some embodiments, opening 204 is sized to contact the outer surface of handle 104 at at least one location along grip 200 and position the grip at a selected location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle. In some embodiments, opening 204 is sized such that at least part of the wall of the opening (the inner surface of grip 200) contacts the outer surface of handle 104 at a selected location along the grip to position the grip at a desired location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle.

In certain embodiments, the size of the larger diameter of opening 204 in grip 200 determines the location at which the grip is secured on handle 104. In some embodiments, the size of the smaller diameter of opening 204 in grip 200 determines the location at which the grip is secured on handle 104. In certain embodiments, the size of an intermediate diameter of opening 204 in grip 200 determines the location at which the grip is secured on handle 104. In certain embodiments, the entire wall or substantially the entire wall of opening 204 contacts the outer surface of handle 104 at about the same time when grip 200 is at the selected location along the length of the handle.

When grip 200 is positioned on handle 104 at the selected location, as shown in FIG. 4, the grip allows a hand of a user of instrument 100 to grasp the instrument more securely than grasping the instrument using only the handle. For example, instrument 100 may be securely grasped by the user with grip 200 when either coloring hair with brush head 102 or straightening hair with handle 104. Additionally, the user may securely (continuously) grasp instrument 100 with grip 200 when alternating (flipping) between coloring hair and straightening hair. Grip 200 allows for secure grasping of instrument 100 without interfering with the use of the instrument in tinting and/or straightening of hair. In certain embodiments, ridges 202 in grip 200 allow the user to more securely grasp instrument 100 when the grip is coupled to the instrument.

It is to be understood the invention is not limited to particular systems described which may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a grip” includes a combination of two or more grips and reference to “a material” includes mixtures of materials.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims. 

1. A grip for a hair styling instrument, comprising: a grip comprising an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto a handle of a hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use, wherein the opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip, and wherein the opening of the grip is sized to contact the outer surface of the handle at at least one location along the grip and position the grip at a selected location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle.
 2. The grip of claim 1, wherein the hair styling instrument comprises a hair coloring instrument.
 3. The grip of claim 1, wherein the hair styling instrument handle comprises a tapered shape such that the handle can be used as a hair straightener during use.
 4. The grip of claim 1, wherein the shape of the taper of the opening substantially matches a tapered shape of the handle of the hair styling instrument.
 5. The grip of claim 1, wherein an end of the hair styling instrument comprises a brush head.
 6. The grip of claim 1, wherein an end of the hair styling instrument comprises a brush head that is operated by a user grasping the handle of the hair styling instrument using the grip during use.
 7. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip comprises soft plastic.
 8. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip comprises ridges that allow a user's hand to securely grasp the grip during use.
 9. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip allows a hand of a user of the hair styling instrument to securely grasp the hair styling instrument while using the instrument to color and straighten hair.
 10. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip allows a hand of a user of the hair styling instrument to continuously grasp the hair styling instrument while alternating between using the instrument to color hair and using the instrument to straighten hair.
 11. A system for coloring and straightening hair, comprising: a hair styling instrument comprising a hair coloring brush head attached to a tapered handle that allows the handle to be used to straighten hair during use; and a grip comprising an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto the handle of the hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use, wherein the opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip, and wherein the opening is sized such that the grip is positioned at a selected location along the handle when at least part of the wall of the opening contacts the outer surface of the handle during use.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the shape of the taper of the opening substantially matches the shape of the tapered handle of the hair styling instrument.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first end of the grip with the larger diameter of the opening is moved onto the handle of the instrument first during use.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the hair coloring brush head is operated by a user grasping the handle of the hair styling instrument using the grip during use.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the grip comprises soft plastic.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the grip comprises ridges that allow a user's hand to securely grasp the grip during use.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the grip allows a hand of a user of the hair styling instrument to securely grasp the hair styling instrument while using the instrument to color and straighten hair.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the grip allows a hand of a user of the hair styling instrument to continuously grasp the hair styling instrument while alternating between using the instrument to color hair and using the instrument to straighten hair.
 19. A grip for a hair styling instrument, comprising: a grip comprising an opening that allows the grip to be moved onto a handle of a hair styling instrument and coupled to the handle during use, wherein the opening tapers from a larger diameter at a first end of the grip to a smaller diameter at a second end of the grip, and wherein the opening of the grip is sized such that at least part of the wall of the opening contacts the outer surface of the handle at a selected location along the grip to position the grip at a desired location along the handle when the grip is coupled to the handle during use. 